If you have signs of foot damage, seek immediate advice from your health care professional. If your foot damage is treated in the wrong way, or left untreated, it could lead to more serious damage occurring.

Check your feet for ingrown toenails, corns, and calluses. These can lead to infections setting in and so it’s important that these are treated correctly. Contact your health team for advice on how these conditions should be treated.

Nerve damage is a relatively common complication of diabetes which is important to diagnose as it can lead to foot problems developing.

Signs of nerve damage include:

Numbness

Pain

A tingling or pins and needles feeling in the feet or legs

A burning or hot sensation in the feet

Feet sweating less than usual

Contact you doctor if you experience any of these symptoms.

As with nerve damage, poor blood circulation can also lead to a higher chance of developing foot problems.

Signs of loss of blood circulation include:

Cold or pale feet

Thickened toe nails

Loss of hair on your feet or legs

Experiencing cramp in your calves

Examine your feet yourself

Feet are somewhat like teeth. It is easy to ignore mild problems with them, hoping that they will go away. However, the best course of action is to regularly examine your own feet for the slightest sign of ulcers or problems.

This can be particularly important if you are suffering from poor circulation and numbness. Treat any cut, graze, bruise or mark with suspicion: either treat it yourself or consult your doctor as soon as possible.

Also be aware of cracking from dry skin becoming ulcerated over time. Take extreme care of your feet, making sure that your socks and footwear are comfortable and fit well. If your eyesight has diminished due to diabetes, make sure that a professional is on hand to examine your feet and cut your nails.

Manage your diabetes

Strictly controlling your diabetes with an aggressive treatment regime, healthy diet and lifestyle, and an appropriate amount of exercise means that you are less likely to suffer from foot complications, such as foot ulcers.